A business delegation from Gujarat has arrived here on a seven-day visit to encourage Australian industry and Indian diaspora to take part in the next 'Vibrant Gujarat Summit' scheduled to be held in January next year.
"The summit is not confined to the state but it is also the gateway of opportunities to India. So India is the focus in addition to Gujarat," said Pankaj Kumar, MD of Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation, who is leading the 15-member delegation.
The delegation would visit six cities including Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Queensland to promote the seventh edition of 'Vibrant Gujarat Summit' to be held in the hometown of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Highlighting investment opportunities in Gujarat, Kumar said the delegation would hold business meetings with several Australian companies and organisations.
"We are here not only to seek investment into Gujarat but also to look for the investment opportunities in Australia. So far we have received a very good response and we are expecting over 300 Australian businesses to participate in the next year's summit," Kumar said.
He said the main focus areas for Australian market were minerals and metals, oil and gas, energy, education and skill development, maritime and shipping, water treatment and management, tourism and life sciences.
"The summit will have several specific seminars and international conference on academics and we have been attracting universities from Australia and they are participating in large numbers," said Kumar.
The delegation - comprising Rajeev Sinha of Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, Nitin Shukla of Hazira LNG Private Ltd, Yash Malik of ONGC, A K Manchanda of GAIL, Sunil R Parekh of Cadila Healthcare Ltd - attended a small function organised by Gujarati Association of Victoria here yesterday.
"Gujarat is a global investor hub and we are providing a platform for anyone with business interests to either do networking or to look for investment opportunities not only in our state but anywhere," said Kumar.
According to a Victoria-based business leader Ravi Bhatia, Gujarat summit offers enormous business opportunities specially to those who were looking at China as a manufacturing base.
"Gujarat will be great alternative for them. For textiles, the state is a perfect option as it offers fantastic manpower, products and skills," said Bhatia.
